How (In)Visible Is Science in ASA?

摘要

A feature article on the FY 20/21 budgets in the April 2020 issue of Amstat News addressed the impact on selected statistical agencies. On the plus side, it contained a lot of relevant tabular data that is readily readable but, like tabular data generally, is not as readily interpretable. An excellent start to making the implicit messages understandable came in two well-designed graphs with brightly colored, easily distinguishable plot lines, well-formulated and labeled axes, and clear labels.A very important message was lost in Figure 1, unfortunately, by the lack of an adequate legend and the abject failure to translate the most clear and impactful graphical highlight into text. That is highly unfortunate for the continuing issue of inadequate communication between statisticians and the broader scientific community.